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Guimaraes taunts German media
08/06/2006: Costa Rica coach Alexandre Guimaraes has been baiting the German media suggesting they should not be so quick to write off their chances of causing an upset.
"We have qualified for two straight World Cups," said Guimaraes.
"So taking that into account, as it is popularly said, the German media should not spit in the air.
"We are not worried about what is being said about us. We are only concerned with ourselves doing well in the World Cup and that is what we are here for."
Costa Rica assistant coach Eduardo Mendez added the lesser pressure that comes from not being favourites should help them.
"We know Germany will be playing at home. It's the host, the one that is supposed to win," he said.
"So we will try to take advantage of the pressure they will feel. We will go out to win."
The assistant coach believes Germany's style of play will suit Los Ticos.
"We know Germany will come out against us with everything from the very beginning because the sooner they score, the sooner they will feel calm and assured," he said.
"But if they begin to feel impatient that would work in our favour."
However Costa Rica are facing a small injury crisis ahead of Friday's game with the goalkeeping situation the most serious.
First-choice goalkeeper Jose Porras has been troubled by muscle spasms while Alvaro Mesen has a calf injury. If neither can play the goalkeeping duties will fall to the elegantly named Wardy Alfaro Pizarro.
To compound matters midfielder Mauricio Solís and defender Gilberto Martínez also have slight strains.
"Until yesterday, we had a fully healthy team but after the training session those three players reported muscle pains, so we have to wait and see how they evolve. Maybe they are recurrences of old injuries," Gerardo Artavia the team medic.
"This isn't like a cooking recipe which tells you when the dish will be ready... This depends on the individual evolution of each player, so we will make a decision in time."
Costa Rica kick off the World Cup against Germany at 1700 BST and will be hoping to emulate other underdogs who have done well against the host nation in the first game of a tournament.
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